FB: Empire 8

[XREDDRAGON77]

What else, but more games to follow!

[AUPepBand]

So far several teams have had a head scratching performance! Maybe just unfavorable match ups, poor performances, etc....Cortland's was this past weekend, Ithaca's was v SJF. While  Brockport couldn't score an offensive point on Framingham, and the list goes on. Not sure anyone is a clear cut favorite in their conferenceS but then again, I'm here typing from my couch and not on a field coaching. Can't wait til next Saturday!

What's next Saterday?

Pep,
     Good luck to Alfred against the Red Dragons. I just wanted your opinion on a Pep Band matter, specifically, RPI's Pep Band(no Hockey game that night I guess) brought 20 instruments and signs to the Boz that read "Hobart Still Sucks"(by they way they..... had 3 large awesome Sousaphones) , now is this  Pep Band appriopriate? ...maybe I should shrug it off to the current world we live in; however , it ended up being quite motivational for the Statesmen.....oh, and they also had one kazoo

Uh oh....you sure you want Pep to get started on pep band protocol?

Pep would never allow the AU Pep Band to make disparaging signs or remarks about opponents, else they'd get a load of Pep's ire. Pep has always preached, "Keep it classy, never trashy." Pep has always thought supporting the Saxons and celebrating their every accomplishment is annoying enough to opponents.

Pep is surprised the RPI band traveled. It's been decades since Ithaca College brought their band to Merrill Field....and Pep will admit that the IC band appearing at Merrill Field sparked the start of the AU ensemble. Pep has taken the band to a number of away games, including Cortland in 2010 for an NCAA game only after much deliberation. Bands are not permitted in Cortland's stadium. The AU AD had to lobby on our band's behalf and won the argument...the game was an NCAA event, not a Cortland event, and thus was governed by NCAA rules, which permits bands, so long as they adhere to guidelines. Funny thing, Pep had a drum, a kazoo and one alum with a trumpet in the "band" that day. Nevertheless, when Pep went to the press box to thaw out at halftime (game was played on a brutally cold windy day), overheard was the SID or equivalent directing a sound person to play music for good Cortland plays "because they have that pep band over there."

The band traveled to Troy and played at RPI one year and enjoyed somewhat of a "Battle of the Bands." The real battle was getting out of the stadium after the game, as security had locked up the gate and left before both bands could make an exit! Made us wait over 10 minutes, which seemed like eternity.

Then there's the time Ithaca brought a small group to Merrill Field on what turned out to be a rainy day. AU Pep Band was under an EZ-Up in the grandstand, staying dry for the most part, while the small ensemble across the way got a shower.

What has irked Pep in the past were bands at Frostburg and Salisbury. At Frostburg, Pep had a bass drum and a lone trumpeter and, in true David and Goliath form, the L'l Alf' band took down a 100-piece marching band that resorted to mocking our play, and also filling the stadium with noise when our QB was calling signals....and despite Coach Murray raising objections, the officials refused to do anything about it. At Salisbury, Pep didn't have a band but, once again, the home team pep band played seemingly only when AU's qb was calling signals....because those with the canned music in the press box refused their own band a time to play.

Gosh, there are more stories to tell....Pep's been at this for 20 years...but Pep posts usually kill forum chatter, so, to answer your question, there are no hard and fast rules for band behavior outside of NCAA playoff games (which are included in hosting rules and regulations), but the conduct of a band certainly reflects the class and character of its leader and members, or lack thereof.

On Saxon Warriors!

[Bartman]

Pep,
    Love to hear all your recollections. Sorry I missed the scrimmage this year .When  the Saxons travel to the Boz for a future game, your Pep Band will be warmly welcomed. BTW, the Pep Band from RPI started a conversation to start one at HWS, that would include Geneva Community members to enhance the town-gown relationship.A big Pep Band can help fill the stands as many students watch the game on the internet .

[bports]

Good to see Hellwig back out there after the Hobart game / injury. BP really does seem firing on all cylinders. Cortland may still be an underdog to the defending champs. Will see...

Brockport's lone points allowed in the last three weeks came after Alfred State recovered a fumbled punt at the 3, and it still took them four plays to score. Unreal. Just an elite defense.

That said, I'd like to see Brockport's offense show up against a team with a competent defense. Maybe getting Hellwig back is going to elevate the offense, but you've got to do more than light up Hartwick to convince me.

Cortland's defense was lousy last week, and they were lucky to get out of there with a win, but I'm still making them slight favorites at home in that matchup.

Hellwig only played this week because Freddie June was sick.

[AUPepBand]

Pep,
    Love to hear all your recollections. Sorry I missed the scrimmage this year .When  the Saxons travel to the Boz for a future game, your Pep Band will be warmly welcomed. BTW, the Pep Band from RPI started a conversation to start one at HWS, that would include Geneva Community members to enhance the town-gown relationship.A big Pep Band can help fill the stands as many students watch the game on the internet .

Parents of players are the Pep Band's greatest fans...even when the band didn't sound so great. They appreciated us supporting their boys in battle, not to mention the band adding to the game day experience for everyone.

AU has a new director of bands this year who has taken great interest in working with the band, improving their sound, and with good results. Pep couldn't direct himself out of a paper bag. But this guy's good and has added a lot of new tunes. At the Saxons' night game with UR, the band was surrounded by students who appeared to enjoy the music and also joined with the band in some of its shorties and cheers.

Heck, the AU Pep Band will take any homeless fellow off the street if they can play a kazoo! This year, the band needed some more trumpets...Pep's boss has a 9th grader at Hornell High School who plays trumpet and he brings his best bud, also a trumpet player. AU Pep Band has a community member who loves playing with the band. AU Pep Band has always been inclusive. It just takes someone with a vision to pull it together. It was 20 years ago that five guys with kazoos got it all started (and no, they aren't the guys with the burger joint.)

One more anecdote....Pep once heard the Cortland State Pep Band back in the late '60s chant, "Harass them! Harass them! Make them relinquish the ball!" So, a few years ago, Pep introduced it to the band, who loved it. At that night game with UR, one of the members started that chant and everyone responded. Next play, AU recovered a UR fumble!

On Saxon Warriors!

[FranElia]

Nevertheless, when Pep went to the press box to thaw out at halftime (game was played on a brutally cold windy day), overheard was the SID or equivalent directing a sound person to play music for good Cortland plays "because they have that pep band over there."

Pep, for the record - I know I didn't say that. I'm a big fan of keeping things neutral during NCAA events. I'm not disputing that you heard what you heard that day...just saying that it didn't come from me.

Fran Elia - Cortland SID

[RolandWest]

Good to see Hellwig back out there after the Hobart game / injury. BP really does seem firing on all cylinders. Cortland may still be an underdog to the defending champs. Will see...

Brockport's lone points allowed in the last three weeks came after Alfred State recovered a fumbled punt at the 3, and it still took them four plays to score. Unreal. Just an elite defense.

That said, I'd like to see Brockport's offense show up against a team with a competent defense. Maybe getting Hellwig back is going to elevate the offense, but you've got to do more than light up Hartwick to convince me.

Cortland's defense was lousy last week, and they were lucky to get out of there with a win, but I'm still making them slight favorites at home in that matchup.

Hellwig only played this week because Freddie June was sick.

It will be interesting to see who takes the field for Brockport after the bye week.  Obviously hard to determine just how effective Hellwig was given that the opponent was Hartwick, but he was much more effective/consistent as a drop back passer than June was in the prior weeks.  Luckily Brockport has a week to get it sorted out before the showdown with Cortland.  Would hate for the incredible defense to be wasted by playing QB musical chairs. 

[Bombers798891]

Brockport's QBs against teams besides Buff State, Hartwick, and Alfred State: 40-for-87, 1 TD, 7 INT

I realize everyone looks worse if you take away the good games to isolate the poor ones, but that's really bad.

I'm happy to eat the crow if I'm wrong, but I just don't see them producing against a quality D

[ITH radio]

Weren't 5 of those INTs in the Hobart game? That was just a complete ____show and should be kept in some context. The Statesmen have been the best D they've played to date, but so much went wrong in that game it skews the (bad) stats imo.

The Utica, Cortland, ALF stretch will really tell us the truth. Will see...

[bports]

Good to see Hellwig back out there after the Hobart game / injury. BP really does seem firing on all cylinders. Cortland may still be an underdog to the defending champs. Will see...

Brockport's lone points allowed in the last three weeks came after Alfred State recovered a fumbled punt at the 3, and it still took them four plays to score. Unreal. Just an elite defense.

That said, I'd like to see Brockport's offense show up against a team with a competent defense. Maybe getting Hellwig back is going to elevate the offense, but you've got to do more than light up Hartwick to convince me.

Cortland's defense was lousy last week, and they were lucky to get out of there with a win, but I'm still making them slight favorites at home in that matchup.

Hellwig only played this week because Freddie June was sick.

It will be interesting to see who takes the field for Brockport after the bye week.  Obviously hard to determine just how effective Hellwig was given that the opponent was Hartwick, but he was much more effective/consistent as a drop back passer than June was in the prior weeks.  Luckily Brockport has a week to get it sorted out before the showdown with Cortland.  Would hate for the incredible defense to be wasted by playing QB musical chairs.

June is the QB going forward. No drama what so ever. Unless he gets hurt Hellwig will not play.

[RolandWest]

Good to see Hellwig back out there after the Hobart game / injury. BP really does seem firing on all cylinders. Cortland may still be an underdog to the defending champs. Will see...

Brockport's lone points allowed in the last three weeks came after Alfred State recovered a fumbled punt at the 3, and it still took them four plays to score. Unreal. Just an elite defense.

That said, I'd like to see Brockport's offense show up against a team with a competent defense. Maybe getting Hellwig back is going to elevate the offense, but you've got to do more than light up Hartwick to convince me.

Cortland's defense was lousy last week, and they were lucky to get out of there with a win, but I'm still making them slight favorites at home in that matchup.

Hellwig only played this week because Freddie June was sick.

It will be interesting to see who takes the field for Brockport after the bye week.  Obviously hard to determine just how effective Hellwig was given that the opponent was Hartwick, but he was much more effective/consistent as a drop back passer than June was in the prior weeks.  Luckily Brockport has a week to get it sorted out before the showdown with Cortland.  Would hate for the incredible defense to be wasted by playing QB musical chairs.

June is the QB going forward. No drama what so ever. Unless he gets hurt Hellwig will not play.

It's hard to know that unless you're actually on the staff.  If that truly is the status then Brockport's defense will need to continue their incendiary play.  When we last saw Freddy he was heaving arm punts into the Fisher secondary.  As a Brockport alum and fan I would be very concerned should the Golden Eagles need to mount a comeback late in any game.  He's done lots of good things as a true freshman, but there have also been plenty of reminders how much work he still has to do.   

[AUPepBand]

Nevertheless, when Pep went to the press box to thaw out at halftime (game was played on a brutally cold windy day), overheard was the SID or equivalent directing a sound person to play music for good Cortland plays "because they have that pep band over there."

Pep, for the record - I know I didn't say that. I'm a big fan of keeping things neutral during NCAA events. I'm not disputing that you heard what you heard that day...just saying that it didn't come from me.

Fran Elia - Cortland SID

No issue here. Pep was flattered that anyone even noticed the kazoo, trumpet and drum and the frozen musicians that day.

[Bombers798891]

Counting the days until the Bport-Cortland showdown.

[ITH radio]

Counting the days until the Bport-Cortland showdown.

I wish there was a wider stagger in the start times btw the Union-IC and BP-CRT games. Would be an awesome double header to hit if they were 12 pm and 3 pm starts.

[Caz Bombers]

Counting the days until the Bport-Cortland showdown.

I wish there was a wider stagger in the start times btw the Union-IC and BP-CRT games. Would be an awesome double header to hit if they were 12 pm and 3 pm starts.

you'd need a wider spread than that. By the time you made it out of one stadium, into the car and over to the other, through traffic and parking, you'd miss most of the first half.